FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas has done what many thought was basically impossible and hired John Calipari away from Kentucky.
Calipari and Arkansas were still working on finalizing a five-year deal Sunday night, but it appears during the night they crossed the finish line. Calipari has been head coach at UMass, Memphis and Kentucky in college. He has a record of 813-260 and was 72-112 with the NBA's New Jersey Nets.
Calipari, 65, had grown out of favor with some at Kentucky with first- and second-round exits from the NCAA Tournament. He was making $8.530 at Kentucky. At Arkansas, reports are his base pay will be slightly less with incentives that would allow him to exceed that number.
Calipari had no buyout if he left for another job, but had a $33 million buyout of Kentucky fired him. The last three NCAA Tournaments have seen the Wildcats exit early. In the 2020-21 season, Kentucky had a losing record and didn't make the NCAA Tournament. In 2021-22, they exited in the Round of 64, 2022-23 they were out in Round of 32 and then this past season they once again lost in Round of 64 against Oakland.
Rumors became so rampant he would be fired that the Kentucky Director of Athletics Mitch Barnhart had to do a press release saying his job was secure. While the recent years haven't been good to Calipari's team in the postseason, he's still enjoyed an unbelievable career.